NRL 2024: St George Illawarra’s Jack Bird on positional switch, fitness and reclaiming best form

High-profile Dragon Jack Bird has made it clear where his ambition for 2024 lies – and, as he declares he’s ready to wind back the clock, he doesn’t want it to be in the forwards.

WEEKEND TELEGRAPH 1ST DECEMBER 2023 Pictured at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah is St George NRL player Jack Bird ahead of the 2024 NRL season. Picture: Richard Dobson

Jack Bird is the footballer that never went to the school of cliches.

He’s brutally honest. He doesn’t lose sleep over annoying fans by sticking up for his coach, like he did for Anthony Griffin, last season.

Bird has been known to swear to get his point across. He calls a spade a shovel and if he’s dropped to reserve grade, like he was last season, it’s because in his words, he deserved it.

So when the 2016 premiership-winner and former NSW State of Origin player declares he wants his centre jersey back at the Dragons, you listen.

When he says he’s the only one that believes that 2024 can be the best season of his rollercoaster eight-year career, you listen.

Jack Bird is a believer – and says his best is yet to come. Picture: Richard Dobson

And when Bird says new Saints coach Shane Flanagan rides him harder than any other coach, you get the sense that Bird could be ready to fly in 2024.

“I think I can (get back to my best),” Bird said.

“Not many people believe that I can, but you’ve got to believe in yourself.

“And that’s one thing that I have, I do believe in myself that I can get back to my best, if not better.

“I’m feeling fit, confident, strong and excited.

“I’m in a good head space that’s for sure. Body-wise, I’m in a good state. I’m doing everything they ask of me.

“I’m feeling strong and fit and I’ve just got to keep improving.”

Bird talks with new Dragons coach Shane Flanagan during pre-season. Picture: Richard Dobson

CENTRE OF ATTENTION

In 2016 under Flanagan at the Sharks, Bird played 26 games, the most in any one season across his career, at centre.

It’s staggering then that since 2021, Bird has played a total of just three games at centre.

He got one game at centre in round 23 last season and two games in 2022 in rounds 18 and 19.

In between, he has been shuffled like a deck chair across the field at back row, lock, five-eighth and the bench.

Bird’s last full season at centre – 2016 – delivered an NRL title for Cronulla under Flanagan. Picture: Getty

Bird made it clear where his ambition for 2024 lies amid competition for a centre spot with Zac Lomax and Moses Suli.

“I have had a few conversations (with Flanagan) about what my role is going to be and I’m going to have to train hard to make the squad,” Bird said.

“No one is guaranteed a position and so I just have to keep training hard and wherever I end up, I end up.

“I’ve been training at centre and in the back row, but I would like to get away from the forwards and get back to the backs (centre).

“Obviously I haven’t played centre in a long time, so I have to work hard. I’m feeling fast enough to play centre.

“I’m feeling faster than I was last year, that’s for sure.

“I’ve played my best footy under Flanno at centre, so that’s where I want to play.

“Especially with how my body is these days, I want to pick my moments.”

Moses Suli has turned into a powerhouse for the Dragons since making the switch two years ago. Picture: Getty

BODY SHOP

Bird mentions his ‘body’ not as an excuse but because it’s part of his daily maintenance.

He has been medically cleared of chronic arthritis that affects his joints, particularly his knees, but it has the potential to flare-up at any time.

Bird, 28, also underwent shoulder surgery at the back-end of last season, which has delayed his ability to enter full-blown tackling sessions so far this pre-season.

“Body-wise, I’m in a good state. I’m doing everything they ask of me,” Bird said.

“I’ve had no full contact yet because of the shoulder. But I’ve been doing a lot of ballwork.

Bird has had an injury-plagued career across three clubs, but has vowed to start 2024 at 100 per cent. Picture: Brett Costello

“The knees are feeling good, they’re still a little bit sore, but compared to last year, we’ve come a long way. I have to keep active.

“When I run they don’t hurt anymore. Last year they were aching.

“I’m hoping to get into contact just before Christmas.

“However, I don’t want to rush it. It’s been three and a half months since surgery.

“I want to make sure I’m 100 per cent for the season. I don’t want to be going into the season at 90 per cent. I want to go in absolutely ready.”

NO BS FLANNO

Bird and Flanagan have a relationship akin to father and son.

The head coach was a major contributor for luring Bird out of the Dragons as a rising star and to Sharks back in 2015.

Bird said he responds to Flanagan’s coaching and constant drive to aid his football.

“Me and Flanno get on pretty well, we can chat, we can joke, there’s no BS with him,” Bird said.

“You can’t stuff around with Flanno, he’ll get up ya. Especially me, he gets up me all the time I just have to drive in (to the car park) and he gets up me.”

Flanagan has been a breath of fresh air since arriving at the Dragons. Picture: by Max Mason-Hubers

RESERVE GRADE

Down on form, out of condition and unable to play long minutes, Bird suffered a major blow to his career when he was axed to NSW Cup for a month last season. Asked if he was angry about the decision, Bird said: “I wasn’t pissed off, I just was frustrated.

“There were reasons why I got dropped to reserve grade. Obviously my footy wasn’t up to standard and my fitness and body wasn’t at the position it should be.

“Last year was last year. Stuff happens. It was probably a good wake-up call, I want to play first grade. I don’t want to play reserve grade.

“I knew that I had to be better. The main thing is I still got to do what I love doing, and that’s playing football.

“Hopefully this year is going to be a better year for myself and the team and I think Flanno can bring the best out of me and I don’t get dropped again.”

ROSTER

The Dragons are fortunate that within their roster, Bird is one of few players to understand what is required to achieve success.

Amid increasing hope from Dragons fans that Flanagan can add more players of class to the roster, Bird offered a surprisingly calm point-of-view.

“That’s (recruitment) up to Flanno and the staff to sign the players we need,” Bird said.

“But I think with the players we have, we can do a job.

“We’ve got the right people here, that’s for sure.

“We’ve been training hard and that’s all it comes down to. Training hard and getting our combinations right.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: St George Illawarra’s Jack Bird on positional switch, fitness and reclaiming best form